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80% => The Nevillew General Discussion Forum => Topic started by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:18:07



Title: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:18:07
Got birds swooping down to pick up dead insects floating on the pool. I reckon they're swifts, wifey reckons swallows (no jokes, please).

How do you tell the difference?


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: sonicyouth on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:20:45
Swallows have long tail 'streamers' which are obvious in flight, swallows do not and have a shorter but pointed V shape tail:

(https://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/swallow_tcm9-18469.jpg)
(https://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/swift_tcm9-16743.jpg)


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: sonicyouth on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:22:12
Although depending on where you are, they might also be martins - more likely house martins (not the band) than sand martins.


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:22:39
Got any pictures? Could also be House Martin's or even Sand Martins at a push (probably not though)


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:25:49
Based on those pics they are definitely not swallows.

Wish they'd eat a few more of the fucking crickets, though.


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: Flashheart on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:27:09
You have a pool?

Posh cunt!


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:27:48
On hols


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: Flashheart on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:28:31
Where? The location might help.


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: Ginginho on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:28:32
I imagine he's on holiday.


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:29:32
South of France


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:31:02
 Swifts screech quite loudly... a bit like a pissed up hen party in your local.  Swallows and martins tend to twitter, much quieter.

Swifts are much more urban, there's loads about tonight over Swindon  :)


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: 4D on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:32:26
Seagulls?


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 20:35:06
Seagulls?

There's actually no such specific bird as a seagull... Common Gull, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull these are the rubbish tip types.


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: OOH! SHAUN TAYLOR on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 21:18:06
As you're in Southern Europe they could possibly be Crag Martins...

(http://www.avibirds.com/platen/Rotszwaluwm.jpg)

Sort of a cross between House Martins and Sand Martins without the 'V' shaped tail...


Title: Re: Swifts or Swallows?
Post by: Reg Smeeton on Wednesday, July 5, 2017, 23:36:16
Sexy work OST. The French probably have a few exotic swifts that don't bother flying all the way to Blighty. Unlike the Italians, the French don't eat too many of their songbirds....